Austinist: Drop the Lighter and Move Away From the Cancer Stick

MS

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 16:33:26 -0600

I gather the point of the last post is to re-enforce the idea that we are merely the workers in the hive. Oh shi* smokers lower productivity, like that's important! On the issue of healthcare cost and smoking, here is a simple solution lower the costs of healthcare.

JL

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 14:02:38 -0600

These statistics are a few years old but it's something worth thinking about. The costs of smoking are far higher than the income from cigarette sales. Smoking causes more than $167 billion each year in health-related costs, including the cost of lost productivity due to smoking. Smoking-related medical costs totaled more than $75 billion in 1998 and accounted for 8% of personal health care medical expenditures. Death-related productivity losses due to smoking among workers cost the US economy more than $92 billion yearly (average for 1997-2001). For each pack of cigarettes sold in 1999, $3.45 was spent on medical care due to smoking, plus $3.73 in lost productivity, for a total cost of $7.18 per pack.

anon

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 11:44:38 -0600

Millions in taxes? I know we don't have universal health care. But, through other channels, the fed subsidizes a great deal of health care. I would doubt that taxes on cigs compares to how much we end up spending on Nelson Wheeze n'Cough.

Benji

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 11:41:54 -0600

OMG. If all you whiney-McWhine-a-lots whined this much when they 'crimmed marijuana, I'd be lightin' up a big spliff in public right about ...now. Maybe we can agree that only smokers and those who put themselves in smoky situations should dictate the legality of smoking. Sure. But when you invoke 'freedom' and 'rights', you speak for all us 'mericans. And many of us don't care. Some of us (well, at least me) think that it denigrates more worthwhile struggles to try to make this one seem on par.

Edward

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 10:06:44 -0600

"Meanwhile, encouraging people to drive their Hummers 25 miles to IKEA, thereby worsening the air quality in and around Austin, gets the thumbs up." It's junk science that car pollution does anything other than make you healthier and more attractive to the opposite sex.

JD

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 09:40:48 -0600

Hey - If you want to remind a friend in a funny way, use our video: RememberNovember16.com - jd

norbizness

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 07:53:53 -0600

Meanwhile, encouraging people to drive their Hummers 25 miles to IKEA, thereby worsening the air quality in and around Austin, gets the thumbs up.

Stew

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 02:34:30 -0600

As long as cigarettes are legal, it doesn't matter if smoking is dangerous, uncool, ugly. Let people be dumb-asses and smoke cigs, that is what is great about this country. Freedom trumps science, freedom trumps health, freedom trumps popular opinion, freedom trumps assholes who think they can regulate others behavior. I don't smoke and I wish no one else does, but that's where I stop. Besides "Big Tobacco" is the one behind all of these Truth ads and anti-smoking legislation. They have invested interest in stricter and stronger smoking laws because it stifles competition. They are allowed to keep their monopolies and new tobacco companies are not allowed to emerge. When was the last time a new cigarette brand came out?....not in a long while. Big Tobacco wins. Finally, all y'all bitches are complaining about how smoking is detrimental to society...what about the millions in taxes that is made off of smokers every year? Maybe it's time everyone starts appreciating those dumb-asses?

Benji

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 22:58:37 -0600

Of all our rights currently being trampled upon, why is it that the voices only seem to come out for the right to smoke? Get real and find something worthwhile to defend, a-holes. Smoking is noxious, chemically addictive and, frankly, stupid. If you want to fight 'The Man', start with big tobacco. Geez. (Besides, fascists --Japs and Germs-- are historically pro-stimulant) And actually, fascism is a lot healthier than smoking, especially if all the smokers are sent to an ironic end in... (you guessed it!) GAS CHAMBERS! Smoking is for shit. Quit. I smoked 1.5+ pax a day for 16 years. It sucks. Just stop. The after school specials were right. You really do look stupid and smell bad.

JL

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 17:47:29 -0600

Correction - instead of 877-YES-QUIT, the number is 877-937-7848. The American Cancer Society Quitline is available for Texas residents interested in quitting smoking or smokeless tobacco. The Texas Department of Health funds Quitline services in Texas. Information, referrals, self-help materials, and behavioral counseling are available at the caller’s convenience.

JL

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 17:43:30 -0600

If you would more info about the Great American Smokeout, you can go to http://www.greatamericansmokeout.com. ACS offers a free quit smoking program called Quitline - you can call 877-YES-QUIT or 800-ACS-2345.

Me

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 17:19:43 -0600

maybe those who have commented on the SMOKING BAN (which isnt even what this article is even ABOUT) should keep on smoking. the sooner y'all die off, the better for the evolution of man. this article has nothing to do with hipsters, SMOKING BANS or FORCING laws upon anyone to make them quit smoking. its ONE DAY a year where an organization merely suggests that smokers consider quiting. big effing deal. honestly, why dont you go tell your wife/girlfriend/mother she should NOT go get her annual mammogram b/c i dont see any of you a*sholes making comments about the recent Breast Cancer Awareness Month that just passed.

spyglass

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 17:08:05 -0600

I agree with Stew 100%. Although I applaud the ACS's efforts to get people to quit smoking, they have gone over the line by trampling on private property rights. Also, they are behind the junk science that second hand smoke is dangerous. I personally will not donate money to them. Smoking is Healthier than Fascism.

Edward

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 17:06:37 -0600

Arg!! Where is my html formatting?! The comment preview feature? Not so good.

huh

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 17:04:51 -0600

i did not read anything about the smoking ban on here Stew. take your soap box somewhere else

Edward

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 17:04:26 -0600

Edward's Law (corrolary to Godwin's Law): As an online discussion Austinist comment thread grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler hipsters approaches one.

Stew

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 17:02:31 -0600

The American Cancer Society needs to "butt" out of bar owners' businesses. They are the ones in charge of getting the smoking ban on city ballots nationwide, including Austin's ballot last year. If I opened a bar I would like to know that I would be the only authority to decide if I will allow smoking or not. The only place where ballot initiatives should ban smoking is in government buildings (public libraries, city hall, schools) not bars, clubs, malls etc. Besides smoking relieves stress and offsets Parkinson's disease. I am not a smoker myself, but I support smoker/bar owner's rights.

Smoker

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 16:17:22 -0600

I'll quit smokin' when you tear that butt from my cold, nicotine stained hand...piss off hipster.

allen

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 15:53:22 -0600

well, shit.